A rally against the crimes of the far right in Kyiv ended in an attack by neo-Nazis and mass arrests
Today, January 19, in Kyiv, a group of radical neo-Nazis attacked the traditional rally of solidarity and memory of human rights activists Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova killed in the Russian Federation, with the connivance of the police, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
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This was reported on the page of the organizers of the action - the January 19 Committee, which unites Kyiv left, student, liberal and human rights organizations.
“Attacks on activists began even before the start of the event - on Independence Square, young people sprayed a gas canister at a girl,” the report says.
It is noted that at the announced gathering place, about 40-50 ultra-rightists were already waiting for the protesters, who began provocations: they tore off hats and other things from those present, threw eggs and snowballs.
According to the organizers of the action, among the most active nationalists was Yevgeny Karas, the leader of the neo-Nazi organization “C14,” who declared that all those present were “separatists” and should be arrested.
In turn, on the page of the neo-Nazis from C14 they flaunt an attack on a human rights action and for some reason call its participants “left-wing radicals.”
“The action of the leftist committee on January 19 was disrupted. The left-wing radicals decided that they could calmly exercise their rights here and complain about oppression from the “fascists.” And at the same time, work for enemies from the LDPR and Russia. The masks have been torn off. We showed who they and their colleagues are. Most are ordinary separna and cotton wool. Draw your own conclusions,” write the neo-Nazis.
The page specifies the list of far-right and neo-Nazi organizations whose militants took part in the attack: C14, Tradition and Order, Falcon, Monolit, PS, UNA-UNSO. It is interesting that not only Ukrainian, but also Russian and Belarusian ultra-rightists from First Line took part in the attack.
“Today a good surrounded menagerie emerged from the left. Only the cage was missing,” the neo-Nazis flaunt.
As evidence of the “work for the enemy” of the participants of the January 19 action and their like-minded people, neo-Nazis showed photographs of former and current Ukrainian left-wing activists, some of whom fled Ukraine after the Maidan and took part in the war in Donbass.
Neo-Nazis also cited a screenshot of former Odessa deputy Alexey Albu as evidence of the “discredited connections” of the Ukrainian left with the Kremlin.
Similar information about “explanatory work carried out with neo-radicals” was also reported on the UNA-UNSO page.
In turn, Kyiv human rights activist Vladimir Chemeris, a long-standing participant and organizer of the January 19 protests, asserts that the protest took place despite opposition from the far-right. He claims that the participants' slogans and demands were broadcast through a loudspeaker.
Chemeris also complained that the police groundlessly detained one of the activists of the January 19 Committee, Artem Tidva.
As a result of the conflict, the police detained 8 people. But not the attackers of socially close Nazis, but activists from among the organizers of the rally. “Judging by such united actions of the ultra-right and the police, it becomes clear that the radicals are operating under the patronage of law enforcement agencies,” the January 19 Committee said.
According to eyewitnesses, they were taken to the Shevchenko police department. Chemeris later reported that the guys were released from the regional department without bringing any charges.
The organizers note that a criminal offense was committed - disruption of a peaceful assembly (Article 340 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). According to them, the police did not fulfill their obligation to protect rights and freedoms, although the day before the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights warned about the danger of provocations.
Let us remind you that the action on January 19 is already traditional in the post-Soviet space. Such actions took place in Kyiv before the coup, and the Nazis then did their best to interfere with their implementation, although there was no such open lawlessness as now.
The “January 19 Committee” announced in advance that the main message of the current rally is against the crimes of ultra-right forces in Ukraine.
“On January 19, we will honor Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova (Russians killed by neo-Nazis). They fought against supporters of racism and xenophobia who use methods of war and violence. “But the problem of neo-Nazi violence is not limited to Russia. Unfortunately, its relevance in Ukraine is only growing. In government-controlled territory, it is the radical right that poses the greatest threat to civil and human rights. Sometimes they are integrated into security forces, and sometimes they act as legal political groups or hide under the name of “unknown patriots.” They were not held accountable for their crimes (attacks, vandalism and obstruction of meetings),” the announcement of the action stated.
A rally against far-right crimes in Kyiv ended with a neo-Nazi attack and mass arrests.